With every business, there’s a perception that you need to be serious and on the top of your game all the time. That statement is relatively true however, over the past few years I have learnt that it’s good to laugh. Laugh at your mistakes and mess ups. Getting stressed solves nothing. Take a step back, ask for help, find a solution and move on. That’s the theme of this blog post. I’m going to tell where I royally messed up.

Back in the early days (when I had free time and a pocket full of money), when we were faced with the horrid task of building a track on swampy, Leitrim ground. My Saturday job was to build a quad trail alongside our track so we could follow our customers off-roading in our Landrover Jeeps. Ethan McGloin, our handyman man, was asked to help out. Ethan was driving our Yamahia ‘Big Bear’ Quad back up to our meet and greet area when all 400CC’s of it sank into the muddy, swampy ground. We didn’t blame Ethan, we blamed the ground, or so we told him. Either way, it had to be sorted. I nominated myself to go back up on Sunday and pull the quad out as my other half was working and I knew the coast was clear.

What unfolded on Sunday, was You’ve Been Framed GOLD! The type of incident that would go viral if caught on camera. Let me begin by saying that my Father has always called me ‘bog it, or break it’ and it’s a very appropriate name. I jumped onto our trusty Renault 4-wheel drive tractor, booted it down our track heading for the quad. I hooked a tow rope onto the quad and started reversing. Slowly, the tractor starting to sink until it was completely stuck. Mistake number one. In pure thickness, I pulled the quad out by hand so I could drive the tractor through to a grassy area. How wrong I was. Let me add here that I’m a very independent person and I like to find a solution myself, before burdening other people. Mistake number two. I should’ve asked for help.

Two more bogged Landrover jeeps, a broken winch and a ruined WAC uniform later, the tractor was still stuck and I had officially lost my patience. I called my friend, Cian who arrived with a Massey Ferguson 390 to save the day. Actually, I still owe him a pint. Cian was able to pull out the first jeep but then, I had to make the dreaded phone call to my Father and brother to help with the second jeep and tractor. After a moment of thickness, they just laughed and laughed when they saw the mess of me and the stuck vehicles. After a full crisis management evaluation, it was decided that a 10-tonne digger had to be hired to rectify the situation. Very costly. Tara, our financial controller lost the head!

A full 24 hours later, all was freed and everything needed a big wash. Although this is a funny story and an example of how to laugh at yourself, it was a stressful (and costly) situation. When you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Don’t dwell on your mistakes, laugh and move on. With 2018 behind us, I’m looking forward to 2019 and we’ll hopefully experience less, horrific mistakes.